Carrier for containers



Jan. 9, 1945. J. B. SLEVlN, JR

CARRIER FOR CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /1?1710671291: J Zlb/cji zezlub, tr;

Jan. 9, 1945. J. B. SLEVlN, JR 2,367,066

CARRIER FOR CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ufltor'ngy.

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Patented Jan. 9, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARRIER FOB CONTAINERSJulian B. Slevin, Jr., Drexel Hill, Pa. Application September 26, 1941,Serial No. 412,384

8 Claims. (Cl. 229- 52) and preferably a single sheet of cardboard,paperboard orv similar tough flexible material.

Itis a further object of the present invention to provide acarrier forcontainers which may be inexpensively made, witha minimum of wastematerial, and which is in condition ready for use with automaticpackaging machinery.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carrier forbottles and other containers capable of being placed in a carton in aset-up but empty condition to receive the bottles or other containersfor hand or machine packing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carrier ofthe character aforesaid which is so constructed and arranged that theindividual containers will be properly held in separate compartments inspaced relationship and gripped therein with sufficient tension tomaintain the same against accidental displacement or removal from thecarrier.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carrier ofthe character aforesaid which is so constructed and arranged that theindividual containers may be separately removed from the carrier withoutdisturbing any of the other containers mounted therein, and withoutrequiring dismantling or disassembly of the carrier for the removal ofthe containers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carrier ofthe character aforesaid with an improved handle construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carrier ofthe character aforesaid with an improved bottom wall or floor, and withprovisions for restraining the containers at the ends thereof fromendwise displacement.

It is a further oblect of the present invention to provide a carrier ofthe character aforesaid, in which increased strength of the struts orpartitions separating the respective compartments is obtained.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be morereadily understood from the following description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

.Figure 1 is a plan view of a blanked sheet from which the carrier ismade, the same being shown in the fiat condition before being set up:

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the carrier in flat or collapsed condition andready for delivery to the initial users;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the carrier in flat orcollapsed condition;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the carrier in set-up condition asseen from one end thereof;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the carrier in a set-up conditionas seen from the other end thereof, and with bottles shown in placetherein; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of an upper corner of the handle portion ofthe. carrier illustrating the construction of the handle flaps.

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications andchanges may be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof,the sheet or blank Ill from which the carrier is made preferablyconsists of a single sheet of material, such as cardboard, paperboard,or similar tough and flexible material, slitted and with crease linesformed thereon to provide the desired constituent portions. Theseportions preferably include a bottom panel at the center of the blank,side wall panels on each side of the bottom panels, inclined strips orstruts formed by inclined slits in the blank to provide combined strutsand partitions for conmeeting the side wall panels to central partitionportions, handle portions located at the extremities of the blank, therebeing bridging tabs at the lower extremities of certain of the inclinedstrips or struts, and on one edge of the blank, to connect the struts tothe side portions and provide partial end closing elements, and bridgingtabs between the upper extremities of certain of the strut portions andthe portions adjacent the handle portions. and at the other edge of theblank, for bridging the ends of these strut portions, and partial endclosure elements formed on the bottom panels. The sheet or blank In, asillustrated, is preferably substantially symmetrical about a transversecrease line I I, Rectangular panels I! are provided on each side of thecentral crease line ll, these panels I! together forming the bottom'ofthe completed container.

The panels I! are each of a width substantially equal to that of thediameter of the container and a length equal to a multiple of thediameters of the containers in accordance with the number oi containerswhich are to be mounted in the carrier. The specific carrier shown isintended for six bottles, three on each side, but could readily bechanged to accommodate a greater or lesser number of containers ifdesired.

The bottom panels l2 each have connected thereto, along marginallongitudinal crease lines i 3, end closure tongues l4, the tongues l4having locking corner portions i3 and oppositely inclined clearanceedges l8 terminating adjacent the crease line II, for purposes presentlyto be explained.

Each of the bottom panels i2 has a section I! Joined thereto along atransverse crease line l3, the sections l'l being adapted to form theouter side walls of the carrier, and preferably being slightly inclinedinwardly from the vertical in the initial set-up condition, forassisting in holding the bottles or other containers in position.

Each of the sections I! is joined to a central partition section I! bymeans of a plurality of inclined strips or struts 23 which serve tospace the sections I! from the sections l3 and which also serve asseparating walls for the respective compartments. The sections I! areinitially oilset to one side with respect to the sections i3, asillustrated particularly in Fig. l.

The inclined strips 20 are formed by means of a plurality of similarslits 2|, 2i", and H cut in the sheet or blank and edge cuts 22 and 23.The slit 2 i and the edge cut 22 are curved where they join the sectionis for strength. The edge out 22 is preferably extended downwardly'as at24, and then inwardly as at 23. to provide for engagement bythe lockingcorner portions II of the end closure tongues i4 at that end of thecarrier. The slits 2| and 2|", at their termini adjacent the sectionsi1, are preferably slightly inclined, as at 25, for strength. The upperends of the slits 2 i and 2| are preferably shaped in the form of openhooks 23, the terminal end of the hooks 23 being spaced from theinclined portions of the slits. Longitudinal crease lines 30,substantially vertical in use, are provided where the strips 20-join thesections i1, and longitudinal crease lines 3|, also substantiallyvertical in use, are provided where the strips 20 join the sections IS.The slits 2| and 2!" extend beyond the crease lines 3| for permitting aslight movement at the upper end of the strips 20, thus preventingtearlng of the sections IS in use.

On one side of each section II there are provided bridging tabs 32extending across the ends of the slits 2 I and of the inclined strips 20which are disposed at that end of the structure, the tabs 32 beingjoined to the strips 20 and to the sections I] along a longitudinalcrease line 33 at which the slits 2 I terminate. The crease line 33 ispreferably in alinement with the longitudinal crease line I3 at thatend. The bridging tabs 32 each has a lower edge adapted for lockingengagement with the locking portions I! of the end closure tongues l4when the tongues II are vertically disposed. The tongues M are alsoadapted to engage the wall sections at the crease lines 33.

Bridging tabs 34 are also provided on one side of each section I9, thetabs extending across the upper ends of the slits 2| and of the inclinedstrips 23, and being joined to the strips 20 and the sections is alonglongitudinal crease lines 35. The strips 20, at one end of the carrier,are

preferably Joined to the sections I! along crease lines 43, preferablythe crease lines l3 at that end.

Each section I! is provided with a handle portion 33 joined theretoalong a transverse crease line 31, and each handle portion" is providedwith one or more handhold portions 33, consisting of flaps hingedlyJoined to the handle portions 33 along a transverse crease line 38 andwith a out line of irregular shape. The out line preferably includes anoutwardly convexed curved portion 43 terminating at the crease line 38,and

at the opposite end an outwardly concaved cut portion 4| toprovide alocking tongue 42- as hereinafter referred to. The flap 33 preferablyalso has a transverse crease line 43 spaced downwardly from the creaseline 33 and within the confines of the portions 43 and 4!. The flaps 33on the respective handle portions 33 areoppositely disposed (see Figs. 8and 6), the tongue portions 42 being disposed to the right on thenearest handle portion 33 and to the left on the more remote handleportion 33 (see Figs. 1 and 6). The

. flaps 33 may thus be pushed or swung through from either side and uponbeing pushed through, the respective locking tongue portions 42 willpass the opposite handle portion 33, remain in the desired position, andwill not return to their fiat initial positions. In this manner thehandle flaps 33 may be readily positioned'as desired without injury ordamage thereto, and if desired, may be bent upwardly along the creaselines 39 and 43 to a substantially vertical position. A transversecrease line 44 is also provided on each of the handle portions 36 whichpermits the upper part of the handle portions 33 to be bent to ahorizontal position and downwardly without damage to the flaps.

In the setting up of the carrier, the tabs 32 are bent inwardly alongthe crease line 33 and fastened to the inclined strips 20 to which thesetabs are joined, the fastening being effected in any preferred manner,such, for example, as by means of a wire stitching 45. The tabs 34 mayalso be folded inwardly and secured to the sections is if desired,although it is preferable that the blank be folded along the centraltransverse crease line II and the two sections fastened to each other bywire stitching at 46 and 41. The wire stitching 41 may extend throughthe four thicknesses of the material provided by the two sections it andby the inturned tabs 34, and thus hold the carriers in assembledcondition. If desired, the tabs 34 may be separately and preliminarilysecured to the sections IS, in any suitable manner, such as by wirestitchings 43.

The carriers may be supplied to the initial users in this condition, andopened up for use, but it has been found preferable, in order to reducethe time and effort required for filling the carriers and to prepare thecarriers for use with automatic bottling and other packaging machinerythat the bottom panel sections i2 be upset or infolded along the creaselines ii and is with the central transverse crease line H disposedinwardly. The clearance edges 16 of the end closure tongues II willpermit this infolding to be effected without interference. It has beenfound preferable to position the strips or struts 20 so that they arebent along their longitudinal crease lines 30 and 3| and to oflset thewall sections I! with respect to the sections is in the oppositedirection from their initial positions in the blank. The relationship ofthe parts of the carrier is such that the carrier will readily tendformed as contlnuations of to assume a somewhat more expanded condition.A slight movement only is necessary to place the carrier in conditionfor receiving the bottles or other containers.

Prior to the introduction of the containers into the carrier, the endclosure tongues H at one end are preferably moved intoverticalpositions, past the lower ends of the tabs 32 and into en- Basement withthe wall sections II at the crease line 33 and in engagement with theinner faces of the lower portions of the tabs 32. The end closuretongues is at the other end are preferably also moved into verticalpositions past the lower ends 25 of the strips or struts 20', intoengagement with the wall sections I! at the crease line 49 and inengagement with the inner faces of the lower portions of'the strips orstruts 20'. with these end closure tongues ll at each end in engagementin their locking positions, the bottom panels I! are maintainedsubstantially flat and the carrier is in the condition for receiving thebottles or other containers. (See Figs. 4 and 5.)

It will be noted that the side wall sections H are initially inclinedslightly inwardly from the bottom, so that when the bottles or othercontainers are placed in the respective compartments provided in thecarrier in the set-up position, a slight deformation of the sidewall-sections to conform to the shape of the containers will occurintermediate the strips or struts 20. This will provide a slight tensionon each of the containers, and thus serve to prevent the same from beingloose in their respective compartments, and provide for resistanceagainst accidental removal of the containers from their respectivecompartments.

The carriers constructed as herein set forth may be placed in a set-upcondition in the shipping cartons (not shown), and the containers thenplaced in the respective compartments in a manner which greatlyfacilitates the packaging of the containers in the shipping cartons.When the respective compartments have been fllled, the handle portions38 may be bent together along the crease lines 31 and H to asubstantially horizontal position or together to a down folded position.In the horizontal position the outer edges of the handle portion 38 maybe looked under the crown caps of the bottles in the carrier on eitherside. A compact and protective package for the containers is thusprovided.

When the cartons with the containers mounted in the carriers aredelivered to the retail dealer, it is only necessary to open the top ofthe shipping carton, whereupon access is immediately had to the handleportions. These may be readily bent upwardly to a vertical position, andthe handle flaps 38 may be pushed through from either side. Theparticular carrier may then be moved from the shipping carton anddelivered to the purchaser with the containers mounted therein. Eachcontainer may be readily removed from the carrier without regard to theother containers and without any necessity for taking the carrier apartfor removing'the containers. Each of the containers is separated fromthe containers in the adjacent compartments, and the containers arefurther firmly held from endwise dis.. placement by the end closuretongues It, so that likelihood of breakage of the containers in thecartons during shipment or during use by the rial, a pair of panels inback-to-back relationship, said panels having hinged handle flaps inback-to-back relationship adapted to be swung through opening in saidpanels from either side, and means for preventing the return of saidflaps to their initial flat position, said means comprising theprovision on at least one of said flaps of a portion extending beyondthe marginal edge of the opening in the panel to which the other flap ishinged.

2. In a carrier formed of flexible sheet material, a pair of panels inback-to-back relationship, said panels having hinged handle flaps inback-to-back relatimiship adapted to be swung through said panels fromeither side, each of said flaps having a portion extending beyond anedge of the other flap for preventing the return of the flaps to theirinitial flat position.

3. A carrier for containers such as bottles and the like, comprising asheet of flexible material blanked and creased to provide bottom panelsupon which the containers rest in the carrier, said bottom panels beingjoined to each other along a central transverse crease line, outer sidesections joined directly at their lower edges to the bottom panels alongtransverse crease lines, centrally disposed upper sections, parallelinclined partition members disposed in substantially vertical planes andconnecting upper portions of said outer side sections and lower portionsof said upper sections and joined to said sections along longitudinalcrease lines, end members disposed in substantially vertical planes andconnecting said outer side sections and said upper sections, the outerside sections being laterally movable with respect to the upper centralsection to permit the carrier to be quickly brought from a flattened toa set-up condition, and end enclosure members extending between saidbottom panels and said outer side sections and in engagement with saidend members for restraining outward movement of the lower ends of thecontainers.

4. A carrier for containers such as bottles and the like, comprising asheet of flexible material blanked and creased to provide a bottomsection upon which the containers rest in the carrier, outer sidesections joined to the bottom section along transverse crease lines,centrally disposed upper sections, partition members disposed insubstantially vertical planes and connecting upper portions of saidouter side sections and lower portions of said upper sections, saidpartition members being connected to said sections along longitudinalhinge lines, end members disposed in substantially vertical planes andconnecting said outer side sections and said upper sections, the outerside sections being laterally movable with respect to the upper centralsection to permit the carrier to be quickly brought from a flattened toa set-up condition, and bottom end closure members hinged to the ends ofthe bottom sections and in engagement with the end members.

5. A carrier for containers such as bottles and the like, comprising asheet of flexible material blanked and creased to provide bottom panelsupon which the containers rest in the carrier, said bottom panels beingJoined to each other along a transverse crease line, outer side panelsjoined directly at their lower edges to the bottom panels alongtransverse crease lines, centrally disposed upper sections. inclinedpartition members lying in substantially vertical planes and integrallyjoined to upper portions of said side wall panel and lower portions ofsaid upper sections along longitudinal crease lines, inclined endmembers lying in substantially vertical planes and joined to said sidewall panels and said upper sections, the outer side panels beinglaterally movable with respect to the upper central section to permitthe carrier to be quickly brought from a flattened to a set-upcondition, and bottom end closure members extending between said bottompanels and said outer side panels to assist in maintaining the carrierin set-up position,

nected to said bottom panels and in engagement with said side panels andsaid end members.

6. A carrier for containers such as bottles and the like, comprising asheet of flexible material blanked and creased to provide bottom panelsupon which the containers rest in the carrier, said bottom panels beingjoined to each other along a transverse crease line, outer side wallpanels joined directly at their lower edges to the bottom panels alongtransverse crease lines, censaid end closure members being hingedly con-1 trally disposed upper sections, end members and I asezoee ,7. Acarrier for a plurality of containers formed of flexible sheet materialincluding a bottom portion upon which the containers are adapted torest, outer side wall sections joined directly at their lower edgesalong transverse crease lines to opposite sides of said bottom portion,centrally disposed upper sections, means tor connecting the side wallsection to the upper sections comprising inclined partition membersextending between upper portions of said side wallsections and lowerportions 01' said central sections, said inclined partition membersbeing connected to said sections along hinge lines, and cuts in saidupper sections formed as continuations of the upper edges of saidpartition members and extending beyond the hinge lines between saidpartition members and said upper sections.

8. A carrier for a plurality of containers, formed of flexible sheetmaterial comprising a bottom portion upon which the containers areadapted to rest, outer sidewall section's Joined directly at their loweredges-along transverse crease lines to opposite sides of said bottomportions, a centrally disposed upper section, substantially parallelinclined partition strips extending between upper portions 01' saidouter side wall sections and lower portions of said upper sections, saidinclined strips being hingedly connected to said sections alonglongitudinal hinge lines, and cuts in said upper section formed ascontinuations or the upper edges of said strips and extending beyond thehinge lines between said strips and said upper section.

JULIAN B. SLEVIN, JR.

